Portable heart massage apparatus



Oct. 11, 1966 E. P. THOMAS PORTABLE HEART MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1963 INVENTOR Eugene P Thomas BY msfitmfiigy WITNESSES fi w United States Patent 3,277,887 PORTABLE HEART MASSAGE APPARATUS Eugene P. Thomas, Catonsville, Md., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 325,368 6 Claims. (Cl. 12853) The present invention relates to a portable heart massage apparatus for effecting external cardiac compression, and more particularly to portable heart massage apparatus of the type employing a vertical cylinder-operated plunger which intermittently depresses the patients chest in the vicinity of the heart.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable heart massage apparatus of the plunger type, which includes featuresaffording a degree of compactability not heretofore available to enable minimizing the overall height of the apparatus for standby storage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable plunger-type heart massage apparatus which includes features facilitating its use in association with an ambulance stretcher.

General features of the invention include a horizontally pivotal cantilever support for the plunger cylinder, having a vertical-adjustment construction which enables the overall height of the apparatus to be reduced to a minimum for standby storage; a construction for the bottom plate over which the patient lies which will span the width of an ambulance stretcher adjacent to its head end and lock to the side frame members thereof for retention during transport of the stretcher even at tilted attitudes, as while the stretcher and patient are being carried manually, for example; and an assemblage secured to an end of the bottom plate so as to extend over the side edge of the ambulance stretcher when mounted thereon, which assemblage includes the horizontally-pivotal vertically-adjustable construction for the plunger-cylinders cantilever support, a confinement for a bottle of compressed gas, control means for controlling operation of the plunger cylinder by the bottled gas, latching means for locking and unlocking the apparatus with respect to an ambulance stretcher, and indicator means visible from the head end of the stretcher when the apparatus is mounted thereon in the intended manner.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view showing the heart massage apparatus of the present invention as mounted on an ambulance stretcher and associated with a patient lying thereon;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the heart massage apparatus as viewed in the direction of arrow in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2, showing details of a column locking means embodied in the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the portable heart massage apparatus of the present invention comprises a thin, wide, and substantially flat bottom plate 1 which is adapted to rest on top of an ambulance stretcher 2 adjacent to its head end and to underlie the back of a patient 6 in the vicinity of his chest. This bottom plate 1 serves as a base for the remainder of the apparatus, and according to certain features of the invention its length is substantially equal to the width of the standard ambulance stretcher cart, or about twenty-two inches, and is provided with a locking means 4 -for securing the bottom plate, hence the entire apparatus, to the stretcher for assuring that same will remain therewith during transport. This feature enables the heart massage apparatus to be already located on the stretcher at the time such stretcher arrives at the site of the patient and enables introduction of the patient to the stretcher and apparatus without delay.

The locking means 4 in the embodiment as exemplified herein comprises an inverted U-shaped member 7 secured to the underside of the projecting end of the bottom plate 1 to fit over the usual longitudinal side frame memher 8 of the stretcher 2 to prevent lateral shifting of the heart massage apparatus while on the stretcher. To lock the apparatus to the stretcher with member 7 in place over the stretchers side frame member 8, a strap 10 is employed. This strap is anchored to the outboard leg 11 of member 7 and passes under the stretcher beneath a longitudinal side frame member 14 at the opposite, or ambulance-aisle side of the stretcher, to a latch assemblage 15 located at the side of a base 17 which continues from the bottom plate 1 and extends beyond the ambulance-aisle side of the stretcher. The exemplified latch assemblage 15 is like that employed in rnetal-to-metallocking type buckles used on automobile seat belts and comprises a male part inform of a metal tab 18 secured to the base 17, and a snap-lock female part 19 which is carried by an end of the strap 10 and which clips onto the tab 18. The strap 10 is drawn tight in the usual manner of seat belts by pulling on the free end 20 of the strap after part 19 is snapped in place. The well-known pivotal lift tap 21 on the female part 19 provides for unlocking of the strap to free the heat massage apparatus from the stretcher for independent storage.

The base. 17, which is disposed at the side of the stretcher when the apparatus is mounted thereon, serves as immediate support for a vertically-telescopic horizontally-pivotal support means 23 for the heart plunger cylinder means 24, in addition to support for a standard size D oxygen bottle 25 containing compressed gas for operating the plunger cylinder means 24, and including a housing 27 which encases a control means (not shown) for effecting pneumatic pressure cycling of such cylinder means. Bottle 25 fits into a pocket 28 formed in the base 17 at the rear of the housing 27 and is held in place by a helical spring strap 29 secured at its ends to the back of :such housing. The bottom of the pocket 28 is removable and such pocket so dimensioned as alternatively to permit a larger, E-size, bottle of gas to extend downwardly therethrough to the floor on which the stretcher rests.

The housing 27 also encloses the lowermost end of the horizontally-pivotal vertically-telescopic portion of the cylinder-support means 23, which in accord with a feature of the invention, takes the form of a cylindrical socket 30 for a vertically-extending column or rod-shaped part 31 of the support means 23. By virtue of such arrangement, the plunger cylinder means 24 may be swung horizontally about the vertical axis 32 of the socket 30 between its active position in which it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a retracted position away from the bottom plate 1 and at the side of the stretcher to afford unobstructed access for introduction of the patient thereo, while at the same time enabling the vertical overall height of the apparatus to be minimized by full insertion of the column 31 into the socket 30, as for storage with the compressed gas bottle removed. A pair of verticallyseparated horizontally-projecting bars 34 connect the cylinder means 24- With the column 31 in cantilever support fashion. Collars 36 and 37 on the upper end of socket 30 and the lower end of column 31, respectively, serve to give smooth acting rotary and vertical guidance action for the support means. A retaining screw 40 on the socket 30 projects inwardly into the path of travel of the collar 37 to retain the column 31 within such socket.

To lock the support means 23 in any of its selectable rotary and/or vertical positions, referring to FIG. 3, a pair of locking members 42 are disposed inside the housing 27 in affiliation with the socket 30 and in proximity to the column 31 telescoped therein. The locking members 42 extend perpendicularly of the direction of extension of the column 31, are spaced-apart in their direction of extension, have arcuate recesses formed in inner corners thereof which fit against the cylindrical surface of the column 31, have respective reverse action screwthreaded cooperation with a threaded lock-control shaft 45 extending thereinto, and a rotational constraint confinement, as by virtue of rectangular cross-section; whereby turning of the shaft 45 can effect a pinching effect on the column for locking it, hence locking support means 23 and cylinder means 24, in any selected position. Reverse rotation of the shaft 45 relaxes such pinching and unlocks the column. A knob 46, FIGS. 1 and 2, is secured to the shaft to provide for such turning. The knob 46 is situated on a vertical panel part of the housing 27 which faces toward the head end of the stretcher when the apparatus is installed thereon. The same housing panel includes a gauge 47 for indicating the force delivered by the chest-depressor plunger 49, and an on-off control knob 48 for controlling effectuation of the apparatus. The usual regulating valve 50 associated with bottles of compressed gas is used for regulating such plunger force.

The cylinder means 24 includes a piston 52 which is operatively connected to the chest-depressor plunger 49 by way of a piston rod 53. A flexible hose 54 serves to convey compressed gas to and from the interior of the cylinder above the piston 52 for reflecting its pulsed operation. The opposite end of the hose 54 is connected to the pulse control means (not shown) via a fitting 55 at top of housing 27 containing such control means, and a similar hose 56 and fitting 57 connect such control means to the outlet from the pressure regulator 50. For sake of illustration, a suitable control means for controlling the pulsed pneumatic operation of the plunger cylinder may be like that shown and described in copending United States patent application, Serial No. 274,092, filed April 19, 1963, now US. Patent 3,209,748, issued October 5, 1965.

Having thus described the invention with particularity respecting an illustrative embodiment thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after such disclosure, that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable heart massage apparatus comprising a substantially flat bottom plate of a length spannable the width of an ambulance stretcher for crosswise disposition thereon adjacent one end thereof to underlie a patients back in the vicinity of his chest, a base member secured to and extending horizontally beyond an end of said bottom plate for disposition at one side of such a stretcher while said bottom plate is disposed on and spanning the width thereof, a pneumatic plunger cylinder means for effecting intermittent depression of the chest of a patient lying over said bottom plate to cause pumping of his heart, support means carried by said base member for holding said plunger cylinder means aligned vertically with the center of said bottom plate, and locking means mounted on the apparatus fOl securing same in the prescribed manner to such ambulance stretcher.

2. A portable heant massage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said support means includes a pivot joint enabling said cylinder means to be swung horizontally to a position affording unobstructed vertical accessability to the bottom plate, and a telescopic arrangement including a socket part fixed to said base member which affords vertical height adjustment of said cylinder means relative to said bottom plate in a manner affecting the over-all height of the apparatus.

3. A portable heart massage apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said pivot joint and said telescopic arrangement are constituted by the same structure and includes a cylindrical vertical column in axially-slidable turnable disposition in said socket part, and said apparatus further includes means for locking said column in any selected vertical or rotary position relative to said socket part.

4. A portable heart massage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said base member includes a pocket receivable and supportable of the lower end of a D-size bottle of compressed gas.

5. A portable heart massage apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the bottom of said pocket is openable and said pocket is proportioned to enable extension of an E-size compressed gas bottle vertically therethrough.

6. A portable heart massage apparatus as recited in claim 2, including a housing mounted on said base member in containment of control means for regulating pneumatic operation of said plunger cylinder means and of said socket part, and includes a vertical panel arranged to face the rear of an ambulance stretcher when the apparatus is mounted thereon as prescribed and on which panel is displayed a gauge for indicating the force applicable by the plunger cylinder according to the pressure of gas availed thereto and an on-off control member for controlling on-off operation of such plunger cylinder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,891 8/1897 Walker 12828 3,209,747 10/1965 Guentner 128--28 X FOREIGN PATENTS 527,048 10/ 1940 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE HEART MASSAGE APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM PLATE OF A LENGTH SPANNABLE THE WIDTH OF AN AMBULANCE STRETCHER FOR CROSSWISE DISPOSITION THEREON ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF TO UNDERLIE A PATIENT''S BACK IN THE VICINITY OF HIS CHEST, A BASE MEMBER SECURED TO AND EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY BEYOND AN END OF SAID BOTTOM PLATE FOR DISPOSITION AT ONE SIDE OF SUCH A STRETCHER WHILE SAID BOTTOM PLATE IS DISPOSED ON AND SPANNING THE WIDTH THEREOF, A PNEUMATIC PLUNGER CYLINDER MEANS FOR EFFECTING INTERMITTENT DEPRESSION OF THE CHEST OF A PATIENT LYING OVER SAID BOTTOM PLATE TO CAUSE PUMPING OF HIS HEART, SUPPORT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE MEMBER FOR HOLDING SAID PLUNGER CYLINDER MEANS ALIGNED VERTICALLY WITH THE CENTER OF SAID BOTTOM PLATE, AND LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE APPARATUS FOR SECURING SAME IN THE PRESCRIBED MANNER TO SUCH AMBULANCE STRETCHER. 